Page 75 of Scarred

“You were hurting.” Oumi gripped Suni’s shoulder. “You could have come to me or your mother. We would have helped you, but we understood that you needed to leave and find peace.”

“And I did.” Suni smiled down at Amma. “Are my brothers in the forest looking for me?”

“No, I figured you were not hurt and bleeding all over the place like your brother Ni’em when we found him,” Oumi answered. “If you camp here and give me a rotation, I can tell Kellan of your return and warn him of you newcomers.” At that, he winked at Amma.

“I am glad we ran into you. I had not even thought of what would happen if we marched up to the gates with unknown males.”

“You are newly mated; a lot of things will flee your mind,” Oumi said with a smirk. “I will also inform your dam that you are bringing her another daughter. She will want to clean your house and make it inhabitable for a female.” Then Oumi turned to Amma. “Do not worry, she will leave the decorating to you. A female should always have a say in what happens within the walls of her home.”

“Thank you. I’ve never decorated a whole house before.” Amma rubbed her hands together with glee.

“I cannot wait to see what you come up with.” Oumi gave a nod to Jabari and Kofi. “I look forward to getting to know everyone better.”

Suni watched the elder disappear into the forest. “Jabari and Kofi, we will rest here until we hear from my sire. Would you mind hunting for something to eat again tonight? I will set up the fire and make sure the camp is ready for the night.”

The two brothers faded into the undergrowth. Suni had been surprised when they had been able to move quietly through the forest and leave no trace behind. Whoever had trained them had been a master tracker. Suni doubted he would be able to find them if they decided to run. He was happy the brothers would be on their side if Lnuuk was ever attacked.

“I think I’m going to like your family,” Amma said as she helped gather some of the downed leaves to use as bedding. “I thought I would miss having my family together, but if your father is any indication, yours is as crazy as mine.”

Suni cleared an area to start a fire and positioned rocks in a circle to keep the fire from spreading. “They can be a lot at times. There is never a dull moment.”

“With nine of us living at home, including my mother and auntie, the house was always full of activity.” Amma deposited the leaves she had gathered under one of the trees. “Can you tell me about Lnuuk? What should I know?”

“I have lived here my whole life,” he answered. “It is situated in the middle of a valley with a clear line of sight in every direction. We have fields where we grow most of the vegetables we eat.” Suni squatted and started the fire before continuing, “I think we have a little over one thousand inhabitants living peacefully together.”

“Is it set up the same way as Ru’s village? I’m excited to see a working market and maybe try more of those flaky pastries. Jo told me that they are usually eaten at breakfast, that’s what we call first meal, with bitter tea.”

“I can make you pastries every morning,” Suni promised. He was thankful his dam had taught him and his brothers to cook. She beat it into their heads that no female wanted to do all the cooking, especially if she was heavy with calf. “Compared to Ru’s, my home is similar with only slight differences. We obviously have more housing, and our village has been established for a few generations. Our homes are also larger than those in Ru’s.”

“Just like a man,” Amma laughed. “Always comparing sizes.”

“I am always bigger,” Suni stated with a straight face.

“Yes, yes you are,” she said, and patted his leg. “I promise to always view everything of yours as larger. What else can you tell me about home?”

His ears flicked. “I like hearing you call it home.”

“Well, we are mated, right? Or is there a ceremony to go through to make it official?”

“No ceremony. Do humans have one?”

“We often have some kind of wedding ceremony, but being married is different from being mated. And the ceremonies vary widely.”

“How so?” He cocked his head. “Do you need this wedding thing?”

Chapter 30

Amma

Amma crossed her legs and leaned forward. She had never really thought about marriage because it wasn’t something her family did. They had occasional relationships, but when it came to having daughters, everyone always went through a donor and used a contract. Things would get complicated if a man thought he had parental rights after the deed was done.

“I never wanted a wedding. To me they are just an unnecessary step most people take because they think it’s what is expected of them. Why do they need to stand before family and friends and declare their undying love? Most unions end in three to four years in an angry battle over resources and children.”

“Human mates do not stay together?” Suni’s ears flicked.

“That is a whole can of worms that we do not have time to get into.” Amma bit the inside of her cheek as she thought. Anything she said would make the human species look like an ugly stepchild. “Let’s just say that there are many different types of unions on Earth, and many don’t last.”

“I do not like the sound of your world. Warriors attack a home full of females. Males don’t stay around to take care of their mates and calves. I am glad you are no longer there.”

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